Incubator



w. HoRwlTz Jan. 21, 1930,

INCUBATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 lflll llllll Il I! Inllll W. HORWITZ Jan. 2l, 1930.

INCUBATOR Filed Dec. 14, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 vwawcoz Patented Jan. 21, 193i) ATENT OFFICE WILLIAM HORWITZ, OF BROOKLYN, NEW YORK INCUBATOR Application filed. December 14, 1926. Serial No. 154,673.

The improvements relate primarily to incubatore, for hatching eggs, but are applicable to other devices ot this general class. Their nature and objects will be more fully set 5` forth in the description of the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying drawings, referred to herein, and in which- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of an incubator embodying the improvement-s;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view 01"' the same;

Fig. 3 is an end view;

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view with some parts broken away;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged detail in perspective showing the ventilators, moistcner and adjacent parts, detached;

Fig. 6 is a vertical cross section substantially on the line 6 6 oi' 5.

The outer trame or housing 1 oit the incubator may be of any satisfactory term, censtruction and material, and provided with transparent windows 2, 3 and 4 giving a view of theinterior. It is preferably mounted on legs 5 and 6. On one end ot this frame is supported a heater 7, comprit ng a lamp and heating coil communicating with the interior of the incubating compartment and the moistener through pipes 8, 9 and 16 for conveying and maintaining a circulation ot heating` 30 fluid. A damper 11 is provided at the top ot the heater. The tube S communicates with a heating pipe 12 extending around the top of the compartment and having cross pipes 13, so that an even distribution otl the heat throughout the upper part ci the compartment is insured. A vent 14 is located at the top of the housing, to permit the escape et air and other gases trom the compartment, and this vent is controlled by a shutte 15.

At the end olf the boi; or housing opposite the heater the pipe 9 extends outwardly and downwardly to communicate with the heating tube 16, extending through the meistening trough 17, and this pipe on the exterior olf the housing is insulated and protected by a wrapping ot cork 18 and an exterior layer of asbestos 19 enclosed in a box oi' wood or other suitable material 29., so that it will b thoroughly protected against heat rac iz `n and will insure that the heating Huid passing downwardly therethrough will reach the bottom without substantial loss ot' temperature from heat radiation. The pipe 9 is narrowed, as shown at 9 at its upper end, where it is connected by a union 9, with the heating tubes 12, etc.

rlhe trough 17 is secured to the bottom of the boX 1, is insulated by a surrounding layer of asbestos or similar non-conductor of heat 21, and is housed in an elongated box 22. 1Water is supplied thereto through the pipe 23 having a tunnel shaped upwardly turned end on the exterior ot the incubator, so that water may be supplied thereto without opening the doors and thereby admitting air to the egg compartment. The level ot water may be observed through the tunnel shaped mouth of the pipe, and may be maintained therein at a level which insures a liquid seal, manually, or automatically, by means of a student lamp reservoir or otherwise. In the early stages of the incubation period, however, more moisture is required than at the later stages, and the lowering ot the water level is therefore desirable after the said early stages.

A series of air inlets 24 are provided in the trough above the water level, and an overflow pipe 25 prevents the water from rising above these inlets. At the bottom of t-he trough a drain 26 is provided. The air inlets are protected, and the air admitted thereto regulated by shields 27 having a door 28 supported on friction hinges 29. The rod 30 running through the hinges and fixed to the upper edge of the door 28 forms a common hinge pin. The door may be opened and closed to any desired extent, by means of the knob 31 and on account ot the friction in the hinges will remain in any position to which it,...

before passing upwardly into the incubating compartment. It will be seen, therefore, that all air admitted to the interior is first heated and moistened, and that the temperature of the air thus supplied approximates the temperature in the interior. Owing to its dependence upon contact with the heating pipe 16, for its temperature, however, it will be given a temperature slightly lower and will rise in the interior, and rise in temperature, carrying with it moisture trom the trough and thus supply the desired volume of air at the proper temperature and at a proper rate to keep the interior atmosphere fresh and slightly humid and force out the air and other gases in the incubating chamber through the top ventilator 14.

Experience has demonstrated that the ideal conditions for incubation approach as closely as possible to the natural conditions produced by a fowl sitting on the eggs, which involve a. certain degree of humidity, a constant temperature and a. slow circulation of air with ventilation to carry oil carbon dioxide generated by the eggs, and other impurities. This ideal condition is approximated by the present apparatus, and once it is properly regulated, these conditions will be mainta ined automatically throughout the period of incubation.

In order to still further regulate the admission of fresh heated and moistened air, and raise it to the temperature of the interior, a series of tubes 32 extending upwardly into the interior from a plate covering the trough is provided, and the lower ends of these tubes are adapted to be opened and closed to a greater or less extent by a shutter 34 operated by a handle Markings on the rod 36 for supporting` and operating the shutter or other devices may be employed it desired to indicate the position of the openings 37 in the shutter and to show whether they register wholly or partly, and to what extent with the bottom ends oi the tubes 32.

The incubator box has hinged doors 38, carrying the windows 3 and 4. secured in closed position by the latches 39, giving access to the egg shelves 40. Other details of construction may be added to those described and shown, and the details shown and described may be varied and some ot them omitted without departing from the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. In an incubator, the combination of a box or housing enclosing an incubating compartment, a heat generating device exterior' thereto, a heat conduit extending from said generator into and through the upper part of said compartment, a conduit extending from said first-named conduit to the lower part of the incubator, a moistening device comprising a liquid holding vessel provided with controlled air inlets and air outlets to the eggs and means for limit-ing the maximum level of water therein` in the lower part ot said incubator, said second conduit extending into said vessel and having a horizontally disposed portion in the interior thereof, partly above and partly below said liquid level.

" 2. In an incubator, the combination of a box or housing enclosing an incubating compartment, a heat generating device exterior thereto, heat conduits extending from said generator into and through the upper part of said compartment, a conduit extending from said first-named conduits to the lower part of the casing, and a moistening device comprising a water pan with controlled air inlets and outlets into which said second conduit extends, said outlets permitting air to pass to the lower part of the compartment,

and a tube for supplying liquid to said mois,

toning device extending to the exterior oit the casing and to a point above the liquid level in said device.

3. In an incubator, the combination with an incubator compartment of a moistener,v

comprising a liquid container, a heating conduit extending thereinto, air inlet and controlling devices for admitting and controlling air to said moistener and means for controlling the outflow of air from said moistener, said controlling devices constructed and arranged to admit outside air directly to said moistener.

4. In a device of the kind described, an incubating compartment, a housing therefor, a moistening device comprising a water vessel located below the same and outside said housing, means for controlling the maximum level ot' water in said vessel, said moistening device having air inlets above and in prox-..

imity to said level, means for regulating and controlling the passage of air through said inlets, means for controlling the passage of moistened air from said moistening device to said compartment and means for heating said compartment and the water in said vessel by fluid from a common source.

lVitness my hand this 1st day ot November, 1926, at the city of New York, State of New York, county of New York.

WILLIAM HORIVITZ. 

